What is GTHO

[Bunge]

A mate of mine told me that HO stood for Handling Option I always understood that GT stood for Grand Tourer can anyone confirm this. While where at it does anyone know what GTS, GTR, SLR, XU-1 I think X2 stands for Extractors + 2 Carbs 'HD HR' thanks

[WESTY]

I am fairly sure GTS was grand touring sports, well thats what my old man told me when he had one when I was young.


:D

regards

[stonee]

H.O. Definately stood for handling option. Initially the G.T.H.O. PHASE 1 basically the only upgrades to the car was to the suspension and spoilers (and an alloy inlet manifold). As the H.O. developed from Phase to Phase the upgrades were not confined to just the suspension, the G.T.H.O Phase 111 had upgrades in suspension, spoilers, drive train and brakes. It was a hit the key and hold on type of car.

[GTSCoup]

I have always thought (and been told) that HO stood for Homologation Options (or homologated options). There had to be a certain number of road cars produced before Ford could race them.

GT originally started out as Gran Tourismo (like the playstation game), when translated is just Grand Touring.

Maybe XU-1, SLR, and A9X are just like the HSV Clubsport R8. Why is it called R8?, because HSV thought R and 8 looked good together. That is what it said in Motor and Wheels when it was first released anway.

[SmartyMarty]

:eek: GTHO = Get The Hands Off.....my Ford
:D

[GTSCoup]

Originally posted by SmartyMarty
:eek: GTHO = Get The Hands Off.....my Ford
:D

No, GTHO = Get The Hell Out...... of my way.

[SmartyMarty]

......Get That Holden Out...off my way..heheheh sorry Holden fans....

[Road Runner 72]

GTHO= Garbage That Holdens Overtake........ hehehe dont blame me Marty started it.......:p

[Mark]

Couldn't say there was much of that going on.....???

[fantm]

the HO in GTHO had two meanings back when they were on the sales room floor

HO =Handling Option/ High Output motor/ driveline.

and sorry I didnt know of a holden that that was close maybe an R/T Charger in a straight line until a few bends got in their way

[Bunge]

Hey thanks for the replys I am sure GTS stands for Grand Touring Sports but GTHO Grand Touring Handling Option 'High Output' I don't think is right. Does anybody know what XU-1 stands for the XU-2 was a V8 LJ that was actually raced in the super tourers back in 72 but as we all know got squashed. As for a competent adversary for GTHO Phase 3 back in its day, Brock didn't do to bad in his XU-1 '202' Torana. The RT E49 Charger never won at the Mountain but the GTS 350 Monaro certainly did.



Getting Wrecked at the Wreckers

[drof]

The Mustang used the HO but that was for High Output. Just remember that all these letters originated in the States and correct me if I am wrong, but at the time wasnt the Head of Ford Australia Al Turner, an American? And just let me remind all you absent minded "other siders" what the fastest 4 door production car of the time was, oh thats right the GTHO Phase 3, a 150mph plus, Holden eating machine. and before any of you "other siders" start bleating I dont see any Monaros or Toranas or for that matter any Chargers or P76's fetching 100K on the used car market. Maybe $100 at the local Wrecker!!

Laughing with you, not at you.

Dave from Kiwiland!!

[perry]

XU-1 = Experimental Unit - 1

The name stuck after a rushed hand made decal was designed and cut out, and stuck on the car only minutes before the press arrived to see the car.
Well, thats what one of the original Holden designers told me anyway.

[jager]

"all these letters originated in the States " ? ? ?

I believe the origin of the GTHO title goes back to 1960 when Ferrari introduced the 250 GTO. The GTO was Ferrari's homologated racing version which they wanted to differentiate from the 250 GT road car. Thus it was given the name Gran Turismo Omologato (or Gran Touring Homologated in English).

The use of the GTO label was then 'hijacked' by Pontiac in 1964 for the high performance option of their Tempest - although Pontiac owners all thought that GTO stood for "Gas, Tires & Oil" becuase it apparently required large quantities of all.

When Ford got around to thinking of a name for the high performance version of the Falcon they couldn't use the GTO label because of its association with General Motors (Pontiac was a GM division and GM may have even registered GTO as a trademark). Ford therefore did the simplist thing and adopted the logical English equivalent - Gran Touring Homologated Option(s) / GTHO.

[SmartyMarty]

Its great to have people in this forum who know the answers of all those questions.I also didn t know the meaning of GTHO (except my interpretation..or Road Runners ;) your point RR )
I wish all members would give the others a bit more information about themselves in their profile....








2CV RULES....!!!!!!!!

[Mark]

In the History of the GT DVD, the then head of racing said that the HO stood for Handling Option

[SCOTTT]

Hey Bunge, the XU-2 was not the 308 LJ. It was actually the LH SLR5000 before the supercar scare. I have an original LH Torana workshop manual and it shows XU-2 on the front guards and rear spoiler instead of SLR5000. The 308 LJ was simply known as the XU-1 308 until it was killed off. The late name change on the LH SLR was to steer clear of the supercar scare and still enable a V8 in a small car. After this people just assumed that the XU-1 with a 308 in it would have been called the XU-2.

[Bunge]

Great stuff all right we know what GTHO stands for, does eveybody agree Grand Trouring Handling Option and GTS Grand Touring Sports and XU-1 Experimental Unit-1 'Experimental Unit-2 was the very first L34 or SLR LH Torana. Thanks Perry I have never heard of Experimental Unit before. What does SLR stand for Super Luxury Racing I know the 5000 came from the Formula 5000 Engine Block and GTR Grand Touring Racing. Thanks Scott I always assumed the LJ did receive a factory V8. This is great info what about A9X and hears one for you what is an S4.

:D

[HoldenMan]

Firstly, If u ever looked closely enough at a GTHO badge (on car) u would see that it says "GTHO" and directly beneath that is said "High Output". I am 99.99% sure on this, Unless my eyes were playing tricks with me!

Secondly, (not 100%) I was lead to believe that the "GTHO" Badging was only placed on cars that rolled out with finer tuned 351 option which, they (Ford) classed as the High Output option. If the car rolled out with only a run of the mill 351, then it would have been badged as a "GT" rather than "GTHO".



Hope this helps out..


Cheers!

[Bangkok Bob]

I think you may be right Holdenman.

I had always thought it was High Output, but some of the posts in this thread had lead me to beleive I was wrong. I do know that myself and a number of friends do think High Output is it though.

Being in Bangkok means I am away from any useful references on the subject, but I like the sound of High Output.

Does anyone out there have the book "True Blue - 75 years of Ford in Australia"? I suspect it might say in that, but of course, my copy is in Aus at the moment.

[thekid_600]

hey guys, thanks for this thread! I learnt A LOT just by reading it!
I never really thought of what GTHO stands for until you guys brought it up!

[frosty]

Hi Guys,

Just to throw a spanner in the works...

This is direct quote from Ford - The racing History. by Stewart Wilson and Max Stahl produced by Chevron Publishing...

Page 87
"But in August 1969 Ford Australia took everyone by surprise by announcing an even hotter version, the Falcon GTHO.

The letters HO on the end of the name stood for 'Handling Options', and this Falcon really was a racing car. It was the brainchild of enthusiast Managing Director Bill Bourke and a tall American called Al Turner, the new man in charge of Ford's motor sport activities in Australia and the replacement for Harry Firth, who had defected to the 'enemy' ..... the Holden Dealer Team"

We are no closer to resolving this matter... but at least it keeps us off the streets.

[XR8]

I'll get shot for this...
The 'S' in Holden 'GTS' stood for 'slower than a Falcon GT.....'
Ed :)

[HoldenMan]

Frosty,

This may very well be the case but, if they "ford" quoted that, then i beg to ask the queston... Why did "Ford" write "High Output" on the badge. :o



CHeers




:D

[Senator1]

Holden man
i think if you check back to the the days of the XR & XT gt falcons they also had "High Output" on the badges, as someone else already has stated in the book "History of Ford Racing" page 87 confirms HO was for Handling Options, i also confirmed this with an old work mate who was NSW warranty manager for Ford Aust in the 70's & 80's:)

[HoldenMan]

Thanks for clearing that one up "Senator1". I knew i had seen those (forever burnt in my memory) badges somewhere on those falcon's.




Cheers:)

[XR6WGN]

OK All,

1. XR and XT did not have a "High Output" badge. XR had a 289 High Performance badge (in the shape of a V) and XT had a 230HP High Performance badge.

2. The XW had a "351 High Performance GT" badge on the fenders and bootlid and both XW and XY had the same badge on the centre console.

Quote "And, of course, the XW they had in store was not just your common or garden GT, but a special version known as the HO. HO stood for Handling Option. But these were also the initials that sparked off the finest phase in the Falcon GT story." Unquote

The quote was taken from "The History of the Falcon GT" Hope this Helps.

Paul B
XR6WGN

[mustang1966]

The XR 289 high output badge came off the 65-66 K Code mustangs. The steering wheel on the XR & XT came off the mustang as well.

I will have to wander of to my friends house who owns both and have a closer look.

The XW & XA both shared the same 351 hi performance badge as well.

[mmazz30]

These are the words straight from Howard Marsden's mouth.
Quote" The GTHO is know as...Grand Touring Handling Option" to most people.
The official name is "Grand Touring High Output".
Handling Option was only used because of the V8 supercar scare,mainly for the media.
So....from what I have been told,it is....Grand Touring High Output.

[diecastdude]

GTHO means Got To Have One